Digital Game Sales Hit Record High Over Cyber Weekend

November’s cyber weekends are known for breaking retail records. This year’s cyber weekend saw digital games sales hit a record high, even more than physical game sales. A new report from SuperData Research confirms gamers took advantage of discounts on PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store and Steam.

The report collected data from Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo as well as other online retailers. They found that digital spending increased by 14.3 percent from 2017’s figures. However, highly anticipated releases like Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Red Dead Redemption 2 drove the spending spree.

Console game profits reached $1 billion globally, a sharp rise from last year’s sales by 24.5 percent. In addition, PC game sales managed to generate an impressive $586 million which is an 18.3 percent rise from 2017.

SuperData CEO, Joost Van Dreunen said “Video games have become a layered experience.” He continued:

“…blockbuster titles today rely on a variety of different consumer touch points, including live streaming video, real-life events, digital sales, and crossplay multiplayer gameplay..”

In-game spending, such as micro-transactions, character skins and loot boxes etc. also increased from last year. In 2017, in-game spending made up over 80 percent of U.S. digital games profits totalling $15.3 billion that year. SuperData predicts that 2018’s in-game spending will remain the same.

The report concludes that 42 percent of gamers buy most or all of their games digitally. Whereas, gamers who bought physical copies amounted to 27 percent. This trend will increase as gaming moves toward subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PS Now. Such services allow gamers to access an ever-expanding library of popular games, as new titles get added every month. Microsoft announced the purchase of several game developers to invest in gaming. Therefore, digital game spending will continue to rise in 2019 and beyond.

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